Rewarding St. Louis' Good Sports.

The St. Louis University High School tennis captain views sportsmanship as a privilege. Making his mark in a sport that often requires athletes to serve as player and referee, Gus often goes above and beyond the call of duty to ensure a fair playing environment, even when the calls do not go his way. The two-time St. Louis Sportsmanship Award winner for the Missouri Valley USTA was described by his coach as “honest to a fault.” If a ball is 99 percent out, Gus calls it in because playing the game is more important than any result. Gus once passed on an opportunity to abandon an injured doubles partner to play in a tournament that could have earned him a scholarship. Ollie Tettamble, Gus’ brother, said of his younger sibling, “It’s not often that someone looks up to their younger brother, but I proudly do. I admire him for his honesty, integrity, and civility.” In a sport dominated by individuality, Gus chooses to be a team player.

Taylor Brown exhibits class and maturity beyond her years. The Lift For Life Academy basketball co-captain plays tough and finds ways to navigate through tough situations. During one game, Taylor stole the ball from an opponent. Frustrated, the young lady pushed Taylor into a nearby wall, where she hit headfirst. The stunned silence of the crowd signaled things could get ugly, but it was Taylor who kept her composure and after the game, talked things over with the opponent. The two ultimately shared a laugh and a hug. Taylor turned a negative situation into a positive one and provided a great lesson in sportsmanship for all involved.

The Rockwood Summit softball standout understands sportsmanship is more important than the scoreboard. Chloe Rhine knows her role as an athlete and respects the difficult job of officials. She expressed her admiration for them and empathy for the harsh criticism they often take. She dissuades teammates from gloating when they make good plays or jeering opponents when they make poor ones. Chloe was the first girl to make Rockwood Summit’s JV baseball team before Covid ended her first season. Even this setback did not deter her from serving as an example of good sportsmanship and character. Parents of her teammates and opponents lauded Chloe for being a great player who simultaneously shows others how to behave on and off the field.

Tyron Woodley shows outstanding humility and selflessness in the face of adversity. The DeSmet football captain rallied his teammates after a crushing loss in the state championship game and encouraged them to congratulate their victorious opponent. This came in response to the jeering and negative comments directed toward them by opposing players and fans. As a member of the wrestling team, Tyron lost a close and controversial match that negatively affected his chances to compete in the state tournament. His coach said, “Even though Tyron was disappointed, he held his head up high, and represented himself with class and sportsmanship as he shook the hands of his opponent and his coaches.”